Dirigible headlight.



H. F. HOFFMAN. DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT. I

APPLICATION 'EILED MAY 6, I9l6.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

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DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 16, 1917.

Original application filed. February 15, 1916, Serial No. 78,504. Divided and this application filed May 6, 1916. Serial No. 95,254.

motor vehicles and more particularly to the manner of mounting the headlights for turning movement and with the means for revolving them, being a division of my oopending application filed Feb. 15, 1916,

Serial No. 78,504.-

The primary object of my invention consists in so mounting a headlight that it may be turned by means of a piston mounted within a pipe and subjected to forward pressure in the pipe, the piston at its free end being operatively connected to the light.

More specifically, the present object of my invention consists in providing a novel form of arcuate piston movable in a curved pipe section in order to do away with any necessity of interposed linkages between the piston and light, or any slotting of the pipe for accommodation of such linkages.

With these andother objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and then specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form a part of this application.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a conventional form of motor vehicle showing my dirigible headlights in place; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the headlights, showing the manner of mounting it for turning movement; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is a front elevation of the lamp and its supporting mechanism; Fig. 5' is a top plan view, partially in section, illustrating the modified form of my invention.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of thedrawings by the same reference characters.

In order to insure a clear and accurate understanding of my invention and its operation, I have illustrated it in connection with a conventional form of motor vehicle 10 having side frames 11 to the forward portions of which I secure-my headlight supporting brackets 12. Each of these brackets includes a standard portion, which is secured to the side frame of the vehicle and a ring-shaped body portion 13 which encircles the light 14. This body .portion 13, at opposite sides, is provided with vertically alined sockets to receive trunnions 15 formed upon the light in such a manner that the light is freely supported within the ring for rotation about its vertical axis. Each light, at one side, is provided with an extension or stop 16 which engages the ring 13 when the light is directed ahead to prevent its over swinging inwardly and each light is further provided at itsrear Wlth a second extension or stop 17 which engages the ring when the light has been swung outwardly to an angle of 90 to'preventover rotation in an outwarddirection. A spring 18 secured to the light at one end and to any suitable fixed body at its other, serves to normally hold the light in its forwardly directed position. Obviously any type of spring may be utilized for this purpose.

Pipes 19 lead rearwardly from points adjacent the lights to any suitable fluid pressure controlling system, not shown, as itforms no part of my present invention. Each'of these pipes has its free end, adj acent the light, bent into substantially semicircular configuration, as shown at 20, and mounted'in the curved end of each pipe are a pair of piston heads 21 connected by an arcuate link 22 conforming in curvature to the curvature of the pipe terminal in such a manner that the piston formed by the linked piston heads may work in the semicircular portions of the pipe. A correspondingly curved link 23 is connected at one end to the outermost piston head and at its other end to the light, in the manner shown, so that reciprocation of the piston in the pipe, due to pressure exerted against it by fluid in the pipe will cause an outward swing of the light against the tension of its spring. Obviously removal of this fluid pressure, by venting of the pipe, or in any other suitable manner, will permit the spring to return the'light to normal position.

From the foregoing description the operation of my dirigible headlight will be readily understood and no further explanation is necessary. By mounting the lights in the manner disclosed they may be readily and independently swung to the side to light up turns in a road or cross roads. Furthermore, lights so mounted will not require the use of dimmers as the light at the inner side of the road may be swung to throw its rays to the side when passing a vehicle.

If desired a modified form of structure, such as that shown in Fig. 5, may be employed. With this form of structure the light is mounted in identically the same manner as previously described but the adj acent end of the pipe 24 corresponding to the pipe 19 is straight to receive piston heads 25 connected by a straight rigid link 26. A second link 27 connects the outermost of these piston heads with the light and the free end of the pipe in advance of the piston is slotted, as shown at 28, to permit movement of this outer link. The operation of this form of light is identical with that form previously described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A dirigible headlight including a bracket adapted for attachment to a vehicle and provided with a substantially ring shaped upper terminal formed with alined sockets, a light casing seating within the ring and having trunnions engaging in the sockets, spaced stops projecting from the casing and engageable with opposite sides of v the ring to limit swinging movement of the casing in both directions, and means for controlling movement of the casing.

2. A dirigible headlight including a bracket adapted for attachment to a vehicle, a headlight swingingly supported by the bracket for turning movement, a pipe having one end disposed adjacent the light and bent into substantially semicircular formation, spaced piston heads mounted in the curved end of the pipe, an arcuate connection between the piston heads conforming in curvature to the curvature of the pipe, a link connecting one of the heads with the light, and means for supplying fluid under pressure behind the other piston head to operate the light.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

HARRY F. HOFFMAN. [1,. s.]

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

